Baicalin tetrazole acts as anti-pneumocystis carinii pneumonia candidate in immunosuppressed rat model.

The present study was aimed to synthesize and evaluate tetrazoles of baicalin against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the rat model. Among the seven synthesized baicalin tetrazoles, one with trifloromethyl group in the aromatic ring was found to be most potent during the initial study. The mechanism of preventive effect of most potent compound 4c against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was investigated in detail.

Overexpression of MTHFD1 in hepatocellular carcinoma predicts poorer survival and recurrence.

MTHFD1 was the enzyme providing one-carbon derivatives of tetrahydrofolate. We sought to investigate the impact of MTHFD1 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bioinformatic analysis, western blot and immunohistochemistry were conducted to detect MTHFD1 expression in HCC.

Immunomodulatory effects of a new whole ingredients extract from Astragalus: a combined evaluation on chemistry and pharmacology.

Background: Water extract (WAE) and ultrafine powder (UFP) are two types of commonly used supplements in preparing various pharmaceutical products and functional foods. However, the correlations of the chemical compositions with the traditional functions between WAE and the herb itself, as well as the potential problems of safety for UFP have been more and more concerned by many doctors and customers.

Methods: In this study, a new whole ingredients extract of Astragalus (WIE) was prepared using the gradient solvent extraction method.

KCNQ1OT1, HIF1A-AS2 and APOA1-AS are promising novel biomarkers for diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as biomarkers for coronary artery disease (CAD). We measured the levels of three atherosclerosis- or cardiac-related lncRNAs in peripheral blood monocyte cells (PBMCs) from 20 CAD patients and 20 non-CAD control participants using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) methods. We found that the levels of lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha-antisense RNA 2 (HIF1A-AS2) and apolipoprotein A-1 antisense RNA (APOA1-AS) were significantly increased in CAD patients (KCNQ1OT1 increased by 2.

1,8-Cineole Ameliorates LPS-Induced Vascular Endothelium Dysfunction in Mice via PPAR-γ Dependent Regulation of NF-κB.

1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol), a monoterpene, has been widely reported for the anti-inflammatory effects. Our previous data confirmed that 1,8-cineole ameliorated the inflammatory phenotype of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by mediating NF-κB expression . At present, we investigated the protection effects of 1,8-cineole on vascular endothelium in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammatory injury mice and the potential mechanisms involved in the protection in HUVECs.

Preoperative MRI Evaluation of Relationship between Trigeminal Nerve and Superior Petrosal Vein: Its Role in Treating Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Objective:  To assess the value of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the trigeminal nerve and the superior petrosal vein (SPV) in visualizing their anatomical relationship in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Patients And Methods:  This study included 97 patients with primary TN who underwent preoperative 3D constructive interference in steady state (CISS) MRI. Image analysis was performed by an independent observer blinded to the operative findings and then compared with surgical data.

Aboveground net primary productivity not CO2 exchange remain stable under three timing of extreme drought in a semi-arid steppe.

Precipitation patterns are expected to change in the semi-arid region within the next decades, with projected increasing in extreme drought events. Meanwhile, the timing of extreme drought also shows great uncertainty, suggesting that the timing of drought, especially during growing season, may subsequently impose stronger stress on ecosystem functions than drought itself. However, how the timing of extreme drought will impact on community productivity and carbon cycle is still not clear.

Boundary activated hydrogen evolution reaction on monolayer MoS.

Recently, monolayer molybdenum disulphide (MoS) has emerged as a promising and non-precious electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. However, its performance is largely limited by the low density and poor reactivity of active sites within its basal plane. Here, we report that domain boundaries in the basal plane of monolayer MoS can greatly enhance its hydrogen evolution reaction performance by serving as active sites.

Persistent Anemia Combined Increased Serum Sedimentation (ESR) for More Than Two Years Firstly Misdiagnosed as Lymphoma Ultimately Confirmed Systemic Lymph Nodes Tuberculosis by Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Pathology: a Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Anemia combined with increased serum sedimentation (ESR) can be secondary to many diseases and may be ignored when the patient had few clinical symptoms. We report a case of persistent anemia combined with ESR for more than 2 years firstly misdiagnosed as lymphoma. When she received a chest CT scan multiple enlarged lymph nodes were found.

Cideb controls sterol-regulated ER export of SREBP/SCAP by promoting cargo loading at ER exit sites.

SREBPs are master regulators of lipid homeostasis and undergo sterol-regulated export from ER to Golgi apparatus for processing and activation via COPII-coated vesicles. While COPII recognizes SREBP through its escort protein SCAP, factor(s) specifically promoting SREBP/SCAP loading to the COPII machinery remains unknown. Here, we show that the ER/lipid droplet-associated protein Cideb selectively promotes the loading of SREBP/SCAP into COPII vesicles.

Phosphorylation of LIFR promotes prostate cancer progression by activating the AKT pathway.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common solid organ malignancy among men, outnumbering both lung and colorectal cancer, and it is the second leading cause of male tumor-related death in the United States due to high metastasis. Recently, leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) has been found to play roles in multiple types of cancer. However, the roles of LIFR in the progression of PCa remain to be revealed.

Common and distinct patterns of grey matter alterations in borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder: voxel-based meta-analysis.

Background: Whether borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder are the same or different disorders lacks consistency.AimsTo detect whether grey matter volume (GMV) and grey matter density (GMD) alterations show any similarities or differences between BPD and bipolar disorder.

Method: Web-based publication databases were searched to conduct a meta-analysis of all voxel-based studies that compared BPD or bipolar disorder with healthy controls.

Elevated Plasma D-Dimer in Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients is Associated with an Increased Inflammatory Reaction and Lower Survival.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious disease. Inflammatory reaction and prognosis assessment in adult CAP patients are useful for CAP site of care decisions. Most CAP patients were diagnosed in an out-patient or emergency department, so a simple, cheap and rapidly available measurement to assess inflammatory reaction and prognosis has the prospect of broad application.

Tuberculosis Antibody and Tuberculin Positive Tests Initially Misdiagnosed as Active Tuberculosis in a Broncholithiasis Patient with Recurrent Hemoptysis and Fever Proven by Lung Lobectomy.

Background: To report a case of broncholithiasis with recurrent hemoptysis and fever initially misdiagnosed as active tuberculosis.

Methods: The chest contrast-enhanced CT scan, electronic bronchoscope, and ultrathin bronchoscope were performed leading to the diagnosis of broncholithiasis, open lung lobectomy was done after thoracic surgery consultation.

Results: The chest contrast-enhanced CT scan showed a high-density intratracheal shadow and calcified lymph nodes.

High Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) Level Firstly Ignored as Normal Reaction in a Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient: a Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: High serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level has been in use as a tumor marker; however, some physicians may ignore NSE levels in serum, especially when the patients are asymptomatic. Here we report a case that a 51 year old female patient with no respiratory symptoms who had a NSE level which increased extremely over three months and was eventually diagnosed small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in right pulmonary hilar enlarged lymph node was performed for diagnosis.

Derepression of LOXL4 inhibits liver cancer growth by reactivating compromised p53.

TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer, whereas tumors with wild-type TP53 develop alternative strategies to survive. Identifying new regulators of p53 reactivation would greatly contribute to the development of cancer therapies. After screening the entire genome in liver cancer cells, we identified lysyl oxidase-like 4 (LOXL4) as a novel regulator for p53 activation.

Genes in immune pathways associated with abnormal white matter integrity in first-episode and treatment-naïve patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Previous studies have inferred a strong genetic component in schizophrenia. However, the genetic variants involved in the susceptibility to schizophrenia remain unclear.AimsTo detect potential gene pathways and networks associated with schizophrenia, and to explore the relationship between common and rare variants in these pathways and abnormal white matter integrity in schizophrenia.

Atoh1 Controls Primary Cilia Formation to Allow for SHH-Triggered Granule Neuron Progenitor Proliferation.

During cerebellar development, granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) proliferate by transducing Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling via the primary cilium. Precise regulation of ciliogenesis, thus, ensures proper GNP pool expansion. Here, we report that Atoh1, a transcription factor required for GNPs formation, controls the presence of primary cilia, maintaining GNPs responsiveness to SHH.

Nutrient enhancement of allelopathic effects of exotic invasive on native plant species.

Many ecosystems may suffer from both nutrient enrichment and exotic plant invasions simultaneously. Much has been known that nutrient inputs can promote growth and expansion of exotic invasive plants in wetlands, and that allelopathic effects of the exotic invasive plants can inhibit the growth of coexisting native plants, contributing to their invasion success. Thus, we hypothesized that allelopathic effects of exotics on natives in invaded ecosystems can be enhanced by nutrient enrichment.

miR-96 promotes collagen deposition in keloids by targeting Smad7.

The abnormal upregulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling has been demonstrated to initiate keloid formation and progression. Keloid is a type of benign skin tumor that may occur following sustaining skin injury. microRNA-96 (miR-96) serves an important role in the progression of various malignant diseases.

. Extract Attenuates Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction, Systemic Inflammation, and Neuroinflammation.

A proportion of patients experience acute or even prolonged cognitive impairment after surgery, a condition known as postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). It is characterized by impairment in different cognitive domains and neuroinflammation has been implicated as one of the inciting factors as strategies targeting inflammation tend to improve cognitive performance. () is a common Chinese medicinal herb used for managing chronic inflammatory diseases.

Potential reservoirs and routes of Cronobacter transmission during cereal growing, processing and consumption.

Cronobacter are opportunistic bacterial pathogens of both infants and adults. We investigated the incidence and distribution of Cronobacter in 1245 samples of cereal and related environments. 39.

Highly stable Ni-MOF comprising triphenylamine moieties as a high-performance redox indicator for sensitive aptasensor construction.

Electroactive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with large surface area and manipulatable structural properties show promise as a new type of signal probe for electrochemical biosensing application. In this work, an electroactive Ni-MOF, assembled by the redox-active ligands 4,4',4″-Tricarboxytriphenylamine (HTCA), a triphenylamine derivatives, as the electroactive source and magnetic ordered NiO clusters as electronic transport nodes, is first designed and applied for electrochemical aptasensing of thrombin (Tb). The designed Ni-MOF probe realizes a stable and sensitive electrochemical signal output based on simple sandwich-type aptasensing because the high-content TCA active sites and good magnetic ordered intermediate of NiO clusters are periodically arranged in well-defined porous structure of the MOF.

Static and Dynamic Piezopotential Modulation in Piezo-Electret Gated MoS Field-Effect Transistor.

The piezotronic effect links the mechanical stimuli with various semiconductor devices, promising for low-power-consuming electronic devices, sensitive sensors, and interactive control systems. The persistent requirement for external strains in piezotronic modulation may hinder its application in some circumstances (such as devices on rigid substrate or complicated synergistic piezoelectric modulation on multidevice). Here, we propose an efficient method to realize piezoelectric modulation of optical and electrical properties of MoS FET in both static and dynamic manner, expanding the application of piezotronics.